biblos denotes a written volume or named written source, including books of life in which names are recorded.

The attested uses chiefly identify a named written source from which words are cited or read; they also refer to the book of life containing names and to particular volumes, including books destroyed after magical practices and the opening record in Matthew.

1. Named written source for citation or reading · dominant

   In Acts 1:20, Acts 7:42, Luke 20:42, Luke 3:4, and Mark 12:26, the dative singular form occurs in clauses introducing what is written, said, or read in a named collection. The APB renders these clauses with phrases such as "in the Book of Psalms," "in the book of the prophets," and "in the book of Moses."

   Acts 1:20Acts 7:42Luke 20:42Luke 3:4Mark 12:26
2. Record containing names · common

   In Philippians 4:3, names are said to be in the book of life; Revelation 20:15 makes being found written there the stated condition in the verse; and Revelation 3:5 speaks of not blotting out a name from it. The forms are singular, with the genitive in Revelation 3:5 and dative forms in the other two verses.

   Philippians 4:3Revelation 20:15Revelation 3:5
3. Particular written volumes · occasional

   Acts 19:19 uses the accusative plural for items brought together and burned after magical practices. Matthew 1:1 uses the nominative singular in its opening designation, which the APB renders "Book of the origin of Jesus Christ."

   Acts 19:19Matthew 1:1

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly presents the term in phrases naming a source, such as "book of Psalms," "book of the prophets," and "book of Moses," and it uses "book of life" in the passages about names. In Acts 19:19 it renders the plural as "books"; these are verse-level renderings rather than definitions.